Heritage Canada Unveils Plan to Boost Canada's Television & Film Production

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2013-03-08

James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary and Member of Parliament (Oak Ridges-Markham), today announced the implementation of Canada's policy on coproductions. The new policy takes steps to deepen Canada's audiovisual production partnerships with markets around the world. Mr. Calandra also announced the continuation of coproduction negotiations with foreign partners. The announcement was made during a speech delivered at the Canadian Media Production Association Prime Time in Ottawa conference.

The Government of Canada is modernizing its approach to coproductions to benefit our country's production industry. The new policy responds to the evolving audiovisual landscape. It will make it easier for Canada and partners to get coproduction projects off the ground by simplifying the administrative burden and by providing increased flexibility on agreements. These actions will position Canada as an international partner of choice.

For more information on Canada's Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction, visit www.qa.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ai-ia/ppp-ppp/coprod/pol_cpdt-eng.cfm.

BACKGROUNDER

The international coproduction environment has seen some significant changes in recent years due to economic and international factors, technological advances, and greater global competition for investment. In light of these changes, in 2011 the Government of Canada announced Canada's Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction and launched an online consultation to hear the views of Canadians, members of the industry, and other stakeholders.

The implementation of Canada's Policy on Coproductions is the next step in paving the way for future coproduction negotiations between Canada and its foreign partners. This policy will focus Canada's approach to coproductions and ensure that Canadians and the film and television production industry achieve the maximum benefit from government actions.

Under the auspices of a treaty coproduction, Canadian and foreign producers are able to pool their creative, technical, and financial resources to coproduce audiovisual projects. Such coproductions are granted domestic status in their respective countries and, as such, they can access domestic funding programs, fiscal incentives, and broadcast quotas, if eligible. In Canada, available support mechanisms include the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), the Canada Media Fund, and the Canada Feature Film Fund, as well as programs and fiscal incentives from the provinces and territories.

As the designated Competent Authority, the Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for negotiating coproduction treaties. As the Administrative Authority, Telefilm Canada is responsible for the administrative aspects. Telefilm Canada receives and evaluates applications for treaty coproduction certification and makes recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Audiovisual Certification Office (CAVCO).

Canada signed its first coproduction treaty with France in 1963. Today it has treaties with 53 foreign partners and is recognized as a world leader in audiovisual treaty coproduction. .

Over the past decade, Canada has coproduced close to more than 700 film and television coproductions valued at more than $4.9 billion in total production budgets. Some of these treaty coproductions include recent feature films such as Barney's Version (Canada-Italy), Resident Evil: Retribution (Canada-Germany), Inch'Allah (Canada-France), Laurence Anyways (Canada-France), and Mama (Canada-Spain), as well as television productions such as The Tudors (Canada-Ireland), The Borgias (Canada-Hungary-Ireland), and Babar (Canada-France).

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Broadcaster Poll

Should OTT services like Netflix or YouTube be mandated to contribute financilly to Canada's broadcast or digital media productions funds?Yes -- Just like broadcasters, financial contributions should be mandatory.Yes -- They should face similar Canadian content requirements and regulations as well.Yes -- OTT TV providers and online music providers both.No -- There is no way government regulations or technical restrictions could make it possible.No -- A wider and more competitive marketplace, not a restircted one, is the way to go.

View Results

Yes -- Just like broadcasters, financial contributions should be mandatory.

356

20%

Yes -- They should face similar Canadian content requirements and regulations as well.

255

14%

Yes -- OTT TV providers and online music providers both.

149

8%

No -- There is no way government regulations or technical restrictions could make it possible.

232

13%

No -- A wider and more competitive marketplace, not a restircted one, is the way to go.